Sorry for the goof. I probably shouldn't have posted when I'm tired. The food was great! I'll write about it more later - and the Cloisters, ellenem.

Oh, yay, more to come! Excellent report, Jo.

I'm glad you finally made it to The Cloisters, and it didn't disappoint.

The Hungarian thing was just a plain ole goof. I had written "Portugese" for Pio Pio and noticed it during preview. I know full well that it's Peruvian...but my brain subbed another word. Thanks for the info re the distinction of Ukranian/Hungarian but the wrong word was just a stupid goof. The food was great though - and the company was better. Another little bit of synchronicity - when I was back home, I was relaxing at the book on the lake, reading a book that I had just picked up at the marina's lending library. Enjoying Dani Shapiro's "Family History" when Veselka jumped off the page. I'll upload a picture as my profile pic. If I had only checked my book photo first.

I am glad you enjoyed Veselka so. It seemed it had changed for the worse for a few years back but it is now back to its usual high standard.

Next time you are in NY, there is an old fashioned butcher shop across the street from Veselka. Although they too are Ukranians they make an extraordinary assortment of cheap and the scrumptous kiełbasa. Take them home if you can get them past the TSA drug sniffing dogs who are attracted to them. They are wonderful when BBQ-ed.

I scanned most of this thread and didn't read about when your luggage caught up with you.
Glad you had a good time even with the SNAFU.

Well darn, the Veselka line is cropped off the page after the upload, but it says "I spent much of the time I wasn't in class at Velselka, a Ukrainian diner on Second Avenue. It was a crowded, noisy place that served big cheap bowls of chicken soup, doughy pierogis, and strong coffee. I brought my books and spread my papers out over a back table, preferring the din to the oppressive quiet of the NYC library".

Ellenem said pretty much the same of her college days. She said they have spruced it up a bit since those days. All I know is that I really enjoyed it. The food was fabulous!

^^I wrote the above this morning before I left the computer and it didn't post. So a bit of a time delay...

tomfuller, the luggage caught up with me late the 2nd day. My flight was one of several that were cancelled during bad weather and the delivery service is contracted out. They were totally overhelmed with the backlog of luggage in the warehouse. It all worked out Just a little glitch. I'd rather have had my clothes for the GTG but it came in time for church on Sunday. I just won't make the same mistake of picking shoes for the flight that weren't very supportive It took weeks for my poor bruised heel to recover. I was also walking around NYC with a Sweetea Tshirt (they specialize in southern sayings). Didn't realize until later that "Shoot Fire" probably wasn't the best shirt to wear in the city. I switched to my friend's shirts = Cape Cod and a local organization.

Thanks Adu. I just follow ellenem's lead. I let her pick out the restaurants and she hasn't led me wrong yet. My friends leave a folder full of menus from their favorite places so I follow their lead. My family member recommended Kefi years ago and I think I've been back every visit. They have a great whire sangria and wonderful Greek chicken with potatoes. laurieco recommended one of her favorite restaurants near me. I trust the locals and use their recommendtions. So far, so good.

Enjoyed reading your report. As for Fish Eddy, I had never heard of them (what do I know, I'm in the midwest!) but I'm having fun browsing their website. Do you mind sharing what kind/brand shoes you bought? Shoe browsing is a major, lifelong addiction for me.

I adore Fishs Eddy. When they started, the partners had found a store/warehouse of unused vintage Syracuse china (if I remember correctly) as well as overstocks of personalized plates. The first time I walked in a store there were stacks of those overstock plates and on the top was a plate from the dining room of the continuing ed center of my university. My SIL's mom worked there. I eat there 2x a year while at conferences. What are the odds? Back in the day they had three stores in Manhattan, but now they just have the one. I always go. During the year I browse the website to see what I think I'll want to buy. I'm still eyeing their polka dot glasses. I have a massive birthday plate for serving birthday cakes. I've sent baby presents from there. If you ship home from there you don't have to pay sales tax (and that's pretty hefty in NYC). At the beginning they created their own designs, NYC skyline, Brooklyn bridge, etc. but they also have guest designers. Cynthia Rowley designed a line. Basically you'll find funky different china, glasses and gifts that you can't find elsewhere. When I first bought my place in the mountains I bought a mix of their platters to use as plates (the kind used in diners and railroad cars). Now I just use them as servers. Fishs Eddy is one of my favorite stores ever and love going there at least one for every visit. One of the new funny designs is an Obama birther tray - http://www.fishseddy.com/search.htm?...ep=2&x=17&y=13 I always check out the sale section in the back of the store. I returned on my last day for this (it seemed appropriate) http://www.fishseddy.com/browse.cfm/4,3800.html


I tried on a shoe from almost every brand at Harry's but knew what I really wanted. I bought Mephisto sandals - again. The first time I splurged for Mephistos was for my trip to Paris and I wore them every day - and almost every day after I got home. When those wore out I bought a pair from Zappos. Wasn't thrilled with that pair either, but kept them and wore them almost every day too. This was my third pair. I really didn't like the tops of them - shiny patent leather croc surface = so not me. But I rationalized I could wear them for work...and have. They are my "Ahhhh!" shoes. Fabulous support and like walking on air. Here's a similar style - http://www.zappos.com/mephisto-sophia-black-bucksoft

Thanks starrs. I also thought of wedding/housewarming gifts while browsing Fish Eddys, lots of cute items.

I have never bought Mephistos but my husband has a pair he loves.

Love your TR, Stars - thanks for reminding me it's high time for another NYC trip!

Starrs-I want to thank you for the Harry's shoes rec! I'm enjoying a few days in my favorite city by myself before I visit with family in Jersey. A rainy day meant my usual activity of simply walking and exploring wasn't a good choice. Instead I went to the Museum of the City of new York and spent a lovely morning, then walked to the west side for lunch and a stop at Harry's. Bought 3 pairs (including 2 mephistos-i love their sandals and was thrilled to find some closed toe shoes that can become my winter Europe travel shoes!). Will look forward to searching out Fishs Eddy on a future trip!

Oh, I am so glad! My friend who grew up a few blocks away has been telling me to go there for years. I'm not a big shopper but knew exactly where to go with achy feet. Glad you had good luck. I was looking at Zappos online yesterday for winter options. I'm in the north Ga mtns right now with chilly toes all night because I'm in those sandals. Enjoy wearing them in Europe

Really enjoying your report. How wonderful that you get to dog-sit and enjoy New York at the same time...what kind of dogs does she have? And an excuse to buy shoes, what more could you ask for?

We really liked the Cloisters. Looking forward to that part.

Really enjoying your report. You have mentioned frequent trips to NYC before, so it was interesting to hear how you have visited your friend through the years.

I am in love with the city. We are in suburban NJ, but I love the bustle of the city. We visited three times this week, for various reasons, and it was the food that sent me into spasms of delight. So I particularly love reading about restaurants in the city.

We love the Cloisters too!

Thanks travelgirl2! For many years my companies' headquarters were in NYC and NJ, so got up there every once in a while for business trips too. For some reason, most of the meetings were in Jan-Mar. I had my "NJ winter coat" = long wool coat that was perfect. I wore it two years ago at the beginning of the Easter week trip. It's so long and thick the wind can't get through. It's heavy though. Anyway, a car service would pick me up at the airport and take me to the meetings, but I always tried to get back to the city for at least one night before I flew back out. The first time I took a Foods of NY walking tour (Greenwich Village, there was only one at that time) was in January. 7 degrees. 7 hardy souls showed up for a walking tour in those temps. It was a great tour. I DO love the bustle of the city. You are so lucky to be able to get into the city three times in one week. Jealous! Okay, time to get busy and write about the Cloisters. I did love it!

Brr! I finally took a Greenwich Village foodie walking tour last year. Yum. Those rice balls were to die for. At the place at the foot of Cornelia Street. Such a cute area. Sometimes now we swing by and get a hot rice ball to go. I think it's only a dollar.

Glad you enjoyed your tour, travelgirl2. I took the East Village tour a few years later and didn't enjoy it as much. I think our guide was just a little bit "off". The highlight of the tour was the gnocchi. I'll do another one from their list of options again...someday.

I watched several episodes of the History Channel's The Men Who Built America and was fascinated. I recently read a book I'd picked up at the Moose Visitor Center in Grand Teton National Park about the settlers in Jackson Hole and the creation of the park. It was amazing to see how the money was made and thanks to the Rockefellers for spending it to make the park and the Cloisters available to all of us. Back to the trip report and the Cloisters. http://www.history.com/shows/men-who...-built-america